US President Donald Trump has claimed that Saudi Arabia and Israel would not exist in their current form if he had not been president, saying both countries could have been “wiped off the face of the planet”. Trump also said his relationship with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman remains “very good”.
Trump made the remarks during an interview with TIME conducted at the White House on September 28 and published on October 1. The interview covered the ongoing war with Iran, Israel, Saudi Arabia and other issues related to US foreign policy.
Trump was asked about his relationship with Saudi Arabia amid reports that Riyadh had sought greater US military support against Iran-backed Houthi forces in Yemen. “I’ve done a lot for Saudi Arabia. I protect Saudi Arabia,” Trump said. “If I weren’t president, Saudi Arabia wouldn’t be here right now. Neither would Israel. They’d be wiped off the face of the planet.”
US-Israel-Iran War Latest News: Trump Says Relationship With Saudi Crown Prince Remains Strong
Trump said his ties with Mohammed bin Salman, commonly known as MBS, remain positive despite disagreements over the level of US military involvement in Yemen. “I like the crown prince,” Trump said, adding that his relationship with MBS is “very good”. Trump also repeated his broader claim that US support has been important to the security of Saudi Arabia, Israel and other countries in the region.
“My relationship is very good. But remember, if I weren’t here, there wouldn’t be a Saudi Arabia. There wouldn’t be an Israel. There wouldn’t be various other countries, also,” he said. His comments came as the US and Iran remain locked in a prolonged conflict, with regional tensions also affecting Saudi Arabia and other Middle Eastern countries.
US-Israel-Iran War Latest News: Saudi Arabia Prepares Possible Houthi Offensive
Saudi Arabia is now preparing for a possible military offensive against Iran-backed Houthi forces in Yemen, according to a Reuters report published October 2. Riyadh is considering an operation aimed at regaining control of areas around the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, a strategically important waterway connecting the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden. A broader military campaign involving several fronts is also reportedly being considered.
The operation could involve more than 100,000 Yemeni ground forces supported by Saudi air power. However, the exact timing and scale of the offensive have not yet been finalised. Reuters reported that the operation could begin in the coming weeks.
The development comes after Houthi forces made significant gains along Yemen’s Red Sea coast and established control over territory overlooking the Bab el-Mandeb Strait. The advance has increased concerns about the safety of one of the region’s most important shipping routes.
US-Israel-Iran War Latest News: US Provides Intelligence Support to Saudi Arabia
The United States is supporting Saudi Arabia with intelligence and other assistance as Riyadh prepares for a possible campaign against the Houthis. However, the US is not expected to take a direct combat role in the planned operation. Saudi Arabia and its regional partners are expected to take the lead, while Washington’s support remains focused primarily on intelligence and defensive assistance.
The issue has become particularly significant after reports that MBS had previously sought US air strikes against Houthi targets, but Trump declined to directly intervene. The latest developments indicate that Saudi Arabia may now be preparing to take a larger role itself in confronting the Houthis and securing the Bab el-Mandeb Strait.
US-Israel-Iran War Latest News: Houthi-Saudi Conflict Raises Red Sea Security Concerns
The situation has also raised fresh concerns about international shipping through the Red Sea. The Bab el-Mandeb Strait is a major maritime chokepoint and an important route for trade and energy shipments.
The Houthi advance towards the strait has increased pressure on Saudi Arabia, which has been supporting forces opposed to the Iran-aligned group in Yemen. Reuters previously reported that the Houthi gains represented a major setback for Riyadh and highlighted the limits of US protection in the region. The conflict has also escalated in recent days. Yemen’s internationally recognised government said its forces carried out 20 airstrikes against Houthi targets in Taiz province on October 2. The fighting marks a significant escalation after a period of relative calm following the 2022 UN-brokered truce.
US-Israel-Iran War Latest News: Trump Links US Protection to Regional Security
Trump’s latest comments underline his argument that American military and diplomatic support has been essential to the security of Israel and Saudi Arabia. At the same time, the developments in Yemen show the growing complexity of the regional conflict, with Saudi Arabia weighing direct military action against the Houthis while the US continues to provide support without committing to a direct combat role.
As tensions between Washington and Tehran continue, developments involving Iran-backed groups in Yemen could further affect the wider Middle East conflict, regional security and shipping through the Red Sea and Bab el-Mandeb Strait.
